Discharge fitting for hot water heaters and the like



June 5, 1934. s HUMPHREY' 1,961,363

DISCHARGE FITTING FOR HOT WATER HEATERS AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 21, 1931 7 1a 0 g a 6 MM/MM Ill, 4 1;

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z'\ 3 T H r17 1 15 INVENTOR Ff 7.5- gjgav ATTORNEYS Patented June 5, 1934 DISCHARGE FITTING FOR HOT WATER HEATERS AND THE LIKE v Herbert S. Humphrey, Kalamazoo, Mich, assignor to Ruud Manufacturing Company, Kalamazoo, Mich.

Application December 21, 1931, Serial No. 582,318

5 Claims.

The main objects of my invention are:

First, to provide a discharge fitting for hot water heaters, boilers, and the like, having both pressure and temperature responsive safety valves or relief means.

Second, to provide an accurate fitting for hot water boilers and the like having a temperature responsive relief means carried thereby and positioned so as to be subject to the extreme heat of the system.

Third, to provide a fitting of this type having a single discharge passage communicating with heat and pressure relief means, the whole being adapted to be installed as a single unit.

Fourth, to provide a fitting of the character described having a temperature relief means comprising a discharge tube designed for ready removal and replacement through the inside of the fitting and without disturbing the end connections therefor.

Objects pertaining to details and economies of my invention will definitely appear from the description to: follow. The invention is defined in the claims.

A structure which embodies the features of m invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a front elevation of a hot water heater equipped with my improved fitting.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section on a line corresponding to line 2-2 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section on a line corresponding to line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary transverse section on a line corresponding to line 4-4 of Figs. 2, 3 and 5.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section on a line corresponding to line 55 of Fig. 4.

In the embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawing 1 is a boiler or tank having a water heater 2 connected thereto by circulating pipes 3 and 4. Cold water is supplied to the reservoir 1 through the pipe 6. The hot water is withdrawn from the reservoir through the pipe '7 which is connected to the reservoir by my improved fitting designated generally by the numeral 8.

This fitting comprises a tubular casing 9 having a main water passage 10 therethrough. Projecting laterally from the side of this casing is a relief valve casing or housing 11 connected to the passage 10 through the port 12 surrounded by the valve seat 13. The cup-shaped relief valve 14 is provided with 21. facing 15 which coacts' with the seat 13. The hollow cap 16 is threaded to the housing 11 and supports the compression spring 1'? which acts to urge the valve to its seat. The cap being threaded it may be adjusted to regulate the tension of the relief valve. When the pressure within the passage 10 exceeds the 59 predetermined amount the valve opens and remains open until the pressure within the passage, and consequently within the heating apparatus, is reduced to the safety point.

The relief valve casing is provided with a discharge passage 18 which is provided with a drain pipe 19 for carrying off the discharged water or steam. The casing or body member 9 is also provided with an inclined threaded opening 20 having an outwardly facing conical seat 21 at its 79 inner end on which the flared end 22 of the relief tube 23 is seated. This relief tube is preferably formed of copper and curved as illustrated.

The flared end 22 of the tube 23 is clamped upon the shoulder or seat 21 by the threaded plug 24. The plug 24 is provided with an inner portion 25 of reduced diameter and having a longitudinal passage 26 therein communicating with the inside of the tube 23 and the radial bore 27 in the clamp ingplug. This radial bore 2'? communicates with the space 28 surrounding the plug and with the discharge outlet 18 through the connecting passage 29 so that the tube discharges through the passage 18. The tube is of such length that it projects from the end of the casing 9 into the reservoir so as to be subject to the hottest water therein.

The lower end 30 of the tube is normally sealed with the fusible plug or valve 31 which is adapted to fuse or melt at a predetermined temperature, so that, when the temperature in this reservoir exceeds a predetermined maximum, the closure 31 melts and drops out of the tube, thereby permitting the escape of water or steam through the tube and the passages described. The opening 20 is inclined relative to the side of the body member 9 so that the curved tube may be readily inserted and removed for repair or replacement of a fused closure without disassembling the fixture from the parts connected thereby.

In the adaptation illustrated the fitting is associated with the hot water storage reservoir of a hot water heater but it will be readily understood that it is desirable and adaptable for use in various relations. The fitting is assembled as a unitary structure and may be readily applied to new equipment or to equipment previously installed or in use.

In the embodiment illustrated a cup-like valve is provided, this being guided by longitudinal ribs 0 32 providing passages 33 around the valve. Other forms of relief valve may be readily embodied in this structure if desired.

My improvements have the further advantage of being very simple and economical in structure and very reliable in operation, providing pressure and temperature safety relief means, the valves cooperating to provide a maximum of safety.

I have illustrated and described my improvements in a very practical embodiment thereof. I have not attempted to illustrated or describe certain modifications which I contemplate or which might be desirable for particular installations as it is believed that this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my improvements as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a hot water outlet fitting, the combination with a casing or body member having a main passagetherethrough, of a valve housing on the side of said casing, a valve port in the wall of said casing having an external valve seat, a cup-like valve coacting with said seat, a hollow cap threaded to said housing, a compression spring dispose in said housing between said cap and said valve, a discharge outlet communicating with said valve housing, said casing having an inclined threaded opening adjacent to said outlet provided with an internal annular shoulder, a curved tube having a flared end seated on said shoulder and depending into said main passage to project therefrom, a plug threaded to said opening and engaging said flared tube end, said casing and plug having passages leading from the inside of said tube to said discharge outlet, and a closure in the inner end of said tube having a relatively low melting temperature.

2. A structure of the class described comprising a body member having a flow passage therein and an inclined opening in a wall thereof provided with a seat, a tube arranged within the flow passage through said opening and having a flared end engaging said seat, and means for clamping said flared end to said seat, said means having a lateral passage permitting the discharge of water from the tube, said tube having a fusible plug at its inner end.

3. In a fitting, the combination with a casing having a main passage therethrough, of a valve housing on the side of said casing, a valve port in the wall of said casing having an external valve seat, a valve coasting with said seat, a cap threaded to said housing, a compression spring disposed in said housing between said cap and said valve, a discharge outlet communicating with said valve housing, said casing having an inclined threaded opening adjacent to said outlet provided with an internal annular shoulder, a curved tube having a flared end seated on said shoulder and depending into said main passage, a plug threaded to said opening and engaging said flared tube end, said casing and plug having passages leading from the inside of said tube to said discharge outlet, and a closure in the inner end of said tube having a predetermined melting temperature.

4. In a fitting, the combination with a casing having a main passage therethrough, said casing having an inclined threaded opening provided with an internal annular shoulder, a tube having a flared end seated on said shoulder and depending into said main passage, a plug threaded to said opening and having an end portion of reduced diameter engaging said flared tube end, said casing and plug having lateral passages leading from the inside of said tube to a discharge outlet, and a closure in the inner end of said tube having a predetermined melting temperature.

5. In a fitting, the combination of a casing having a main passage therethrough and an inclined wall bore provided with an inclined annular seat, a tube having a flared end disposed on said seat and a closure plug threaded in said bore and having a hollow end portion of reduced diameter engaging said fiared end and providing a space between said bore and said reduced portion, said reduced portion and said casing having lateral discharge passages communicating with the space formed between said bore and ,said reduced portion.

HERBERT S. HUMPHREY. 

